Lake Wakatipu will soon be home to a $20 million marina.
Construction of Queenstown’s long-awaited marina, at Sugar Lane, in Frankton, finally began earlier this week. Lakes Marina Projects (LMP) is creating 187 floating berths, 17 floating sheds, four other structures, a breakwater and a 156-space car park.
The development follows an agreement with landholder Queenstown Lakes District Council.
"This is a huge milestone for this long-awaited project and the wider Queenstown community," Queenstown Lakes District Council Mayor Jim Boult said: "As a past boatie and the owner of a berth in the ill-fated earlier marina, I’m delighted to see this well-planned development proceed.
"In my view, boat owners district-wide will applaud this development loudly."
The first stage, comprising 80 to 90 berths and all the other facilities, will be completed in 12 to 18 months. Work began on site on Monday.
LMP is 90% owned by Iranian-born, Unites States-domicilled brothers Iraj and Nasser Barabi and 10% by Alan Kirker, of Queenstown.
QLDC appointed the company as its preferred developer five years ago but progress was delayed as it waited for district and regional council resource consents, and lakebed approval from Land Information New Zealand.
Nasser Barabi said they never lost faith.
"Alan has been instrumental in helping moving things forward and Iraj has been working hard.
"I just didn’t think it was going to take this many years."
Mr Barabi said the resort would benefit from having a messy area by the main entranceway tidied up.
LMP is leasing the berths, ranging from 8m to 18m, for a minimum of about $8000 a year.
The company is also leasing floating sheds for cafes and marina-compatible businesses.
The Barabi brothers already own several properties in Queenstown.
Nasser, who owns Earnslaw Lodge with his wife, also this week saw the completion of a Frankton Flats building.
It will be used by the brothers’ US company Essai Inc, which services semiconductor and electronic consumer companies — for manufacturing.
- By Philip Chandler
